“Kempston residents and others from further afield are suffering from lack of action, and this problem will only be further compounded by the introduction of another supermarket with no major changes.

“I was grateful to hear from the deputy mayor that officers are continuously looking at options and that action has been taken where possible, but I look forward to hearing and seeing meaningful solutions as soon as possible.

“This problem is as bad as I can ever remember, and needs action now. I will continue to press for a resolution in the coming months.

During the summer, Aldi submitted plans for a new food store in Ampthill Road.

If given the green light, the store will be almost half the size of neighbouring Morrison and would create up to 40 jobs.

The proposed site is on land at the former Camford Works, where permission for a 140 bed hotel was previously granted by a lack of commercial interest meant it did not go ahead.

A spokesman for Bedford Borough Council confirmed that the council is looking into solutions and said action is being taken where possible.